Ameer Abdullah | Running Back

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Abdullah (5'9/205) parlayed 813 career carries into 4,588 yards (5.64 YPC) and 39 touchdowns for Nebraska, adding 73 receptions. Although Abdullah is long-speed deficient (4.60), he registered the highest SPARQ score among running backs at the Combine, and offers an elite combination of lateral agility and lower-body explosion. He was one of the best all-around football players we viewed on tape, running inside with determined decisiveness. He has future feature back potential if he cleans up his pass pro and ball security after fumbling 24 times in college. If it comes together, Abdullah can be a more elusive version of Ray Rice. As a rookie, he'll battle Theo Riddick to pick up Reggie Bush's pass-catching slack opposite Joique Bell. Fri, May 1, 2015 09:06:00 PM

Nebraska RB Ameer Abdullah was compared by two personnel men to Giovani Bernard, who he shares size and speed numbers with.

"They ended up drafting Jeremy Hill last year because they wanted a guy to run really hard between the tackles," one scout said. "Bernard's really tough in a spread offense on screens, draws and receiver stuff in space. Abdullah will be the same thing. He runs excellent routes, has great ball skills and instincts. He's fumbled the ball too much (24) but some weren't his fault. His game translates well to the zone scheme in the NFL." Abdullah had the best vertical jump (42 inches), broad jump (10-10) and reps on the bench press (24) amongst the runners. "I think he has more of a chance than [Melvin] Gordon," a second scout said. "He's like LeSean McCoy. He can break you down and make you miss. He can beat a linebacker one on one. He needs more work in pass pro." A third scout disagreed: "I'm not sold on him," he said. "Little. Not a good blocker." Wed, Apr 29, 2015 03:40:00 PM

Nebraska RB Ameer Abdullah's "elusiveness is the best of any player in this class," writes ESPN's Todd McShay.

McShay ranks Abdullah as the second-best player in space in this class (behind WR Tyler Lockett). "His stop-start ability is outstanding, making defenders miss and then accelerating again as though he never lost momentum," McShay wrote. "He also stands out as the best in this class for his ability to weave in and out of creases. Some guys have elite agility but don't feel the holes in time, and others can anticipate openings but don't have the quickness to exploit them. Abdullah has a rare combination of both skills." The analyst wrote previously that he envisions Abdullah being deployed as the Bengals use Gio Bernard with Jeremy Hill. "There were so many times I'd watch Abdullah on tape when he'd be going full speed and then stop on a dime to make a sharp lateral or diagonal cut without having to gear down," McShay wrote. "Not many guys in the NFL can do that. He's a threat as a pass-catcher and as a returner as well." Mon, Apr 27, 2015 02:19:00 AM

Nebraska RB Ameer Abdullah "never overpower defenses because of his small stature, but he is an extremely competitive player who runs angry," writes ESPN's Todd McShay.

"His ideal fit is with a team that has another back who can play more of the short-yardage power role, which allows him to be more of a change-of-pace type who can make plays with his elite lateral agility and ability to get in and out of creases and avoid defenders," McShay wrote. The analyst envisions Abdullah being used as the Bengals use Gio Bernard with Jeremy Hill, adding that the Cornhusker is also a good receiver out of the backfield. The 5-foot-8, 205-pound Abdullah has explosive potential as a runner. Sun, Apr 26, 2015 06:48:00 PM